Another day when culture comes first.
Next week sees the big Buddha Day to celebrate the start of the rainy season. Somboon tells me it stems from the day that Buddha instructed all Buddhist Monks to remain in their Temples for the duration of the rainy season. This was after complaints from the rice farmers that Monks, travelling to the forests for meditation, were walking through the rice fields at peak growing season and damaging the crops.
In modern days, with roadways developed, this is not such a problem, but the cultural tradition remains as a celebration of the coming rains. Monks can travel during this period but have to get special permission from their Abbot.
Their time restricted to the Temples is also seen as a period when the lay people can get more reliable access to the Monks in order to make merit during this important growing period.
On arriving at school today we saw preparations being finalised for the imminent procession.
Clearly no lessons would be happening today.
Shortly after 2 pm all the children gathered behind the schools decorated trolley ready to deliver the traditional candles to both the Temple within the school grounds and a second Temple about 2.5 kilometres away.
So first to the schools main Temple, where the first candle was presented, and the head Monk performed the traditional chants.
A little short of half an hours sitting crosslegged showed me I need to practice that if I ever want to spend time as a Monk.
A few minutes shaking out my stiff joints and I went and caught up with the kids as they walked down to the second Temple.
Although the heavy rains have been happening regularly already, today was dry and very, very hot.
If I’d have known about this in advance I’d have made sure I had a hat. You could see the kids were feeling it to, but they didn’t complain.
In desperate need of refreshment by the time we reached the second Temple, I chose to sit this one out at the little shop opposite and take a drink, whilst the children all went in to deliver the second candle and listen to more sermon.
Another hot walk back to the school. The head teacher did offer me a lift in his car, but the ‘carer’ in me had kicked in and I felt that it was better to have more bodies walking with the children ensuring that they didnt get hit by any approaching traffic.
Then I discovered that there was a much bigger parade to come. We all went into the main village where many others were also gathering; many dressed in their traditional clothes, and with many decorated trucks, carrying candles and Buddha figures.
The procession was huge and seemed to go on for ever, the importance of this celebration to the local population became very clear.
The procession actually ended up in the field of our school where there were food stalls, a stage and marquees, where yet more Monks were in attendance to receive gifts and give merit.
Yet another proud moment for me to have been able to be a part of this day.
If you are a round and about Chiang Mai or Lamphun just keep an eye out over the next few days when there will be many such parades happening all around the Provinces.
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